Control apparatus



PatentedSept. 14, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- p/vgT u ESS'ES ATTORNEY A. J. HALL.

:CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.20, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Nan/770ml ere/ Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES ATENT FiFlQE.

ARTHUR J. HALL, OF WILKINt'aBUEG NI-ISYLVAYIA .L ASSIGNOR T WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COD "PAT. Z, A CORPSEATIGET OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTRQL APPARATUS.

1,352,441 Specification of Letter Patent. Pgtgnt-gd S t 14: 1320 Application file-:1 Klecemner 20, 1918. Serial No. 138,004.

To all whom it may concern: plurality of electrodes arranged and sup- Be it known that l, ARTHUR J. llALL, a ported in accordance with my present insubject of the King of Great Britain, and vention within a tank that is shown in seca resldcnt of lvilklnsburg, 1n the county of tion; i*1g. 2 i s a sectional view taken along Allegheny and State or Pennsylvania, have the line IL-ii or F 1g. 1; and Fig. 3 and 60 invented a new and useful Improvement in 4e are fragmentary sectional views, sim- Control Apparatus, of which the following ilar to Fig. 2, and respectively taken along 1s a specification. the lines ililll and lJ-IV of Fig. 1.

My invention relates to control apparatus liererring to the drawings, the liquid and especially to certain structural features rhe-os at shown comprises a suitable con- 65 of liquid rheostats and the like. aining tank 1; a bo tom discharge reser- Une object of my invention is to provide voir 2; a suitable inlet means 3 and an apa polyphase liquid rleostat embodying sets propriate outlet means 4, located at the of electrodes of ditlerent lengths for the respective ends of the tank 1; a plurality several phases, the electrodes bein arof plates or electrodes 5 that are arranged 70 ranged in an irregular rotation of phases in a novel manner to be described; a pluraland of lengths in such manner that substanity of insulated conducting and supporting tially equal active areas corresponding to means 6 for the several electrodes 5; and

the several phases are immersed at all liquid flexible conducting means 7 for suitably levels, whereby a relatively smooth and connecting the several electrode terminal gradual exclusion of circuit resistance is members to the desired external circuits.

effected. Inasmuch as the structural details of the More specifically stated, it is the object or" containing tank are immaterial to my presmy invention to provide a plurality of elecent invention, a very simple structure is trodes or plates ofthe above-indicated charshown, but it will be understood that any acter arranged in side-by-side relation in suitable type of containing tank and inlet such manner as to include, at all times, equal and outlet means may be employed. The total volumes of electrolyte between plates preferable structures are fully set forth and of different phases, the successive increments claimed in my copending application Serial 30 of volume, as the liquid level rises, gradually No. 134,619, filed Dec. 2, 1916, which, among decreasing in size but remaining equal in other things, discloses a suitable vertically the respective phases, whereby a relatively movable valve that operates within the dissmooth accelerating curve for a locomotive charge opening a to vary the liquid level, or train is obtained, and no suddenjunips and in anotl er co-pending application of 35 or jerks are experienced by reason 01" an C. (l. Whittaker, Serial No. 13%,762, filed unduly great change of resistance value in Dec. 2, 1916, and assigned to the estingthe rheotsat, or a too sudden decrease in the house Electric & lilanuiaoturing Company. distance between plates, as the liquid level The electrodes 5 correspond to three difrises. ferent phases, which may be conveniently 4O A further object of my invention is to designated as 91,3, and C, respectively, and provide a relatively simple, but compact and are of live different lengths, considered from durable, means for supporting a plurality the marked maximum or final liquid level of electrodes and connecting them to an eX- to the electrode tips, namely, a, b, 0, (Z and e, ternal polyphase circuit. I as indicated in Fig. 2. The two outer plates 45 Still another object of my invention is to correspond to phase A and are of somewhat we provide means, preferably in the form or" smaller size than the corresponding interporcelain spools, arranged in such manner mediate plates for the phases Band C, as that the splashing or trickling of liquid best shown inFig. 1, in order toprovide from any electrode to a conducting part substantially the same electrical effect, that 50 that is connected with any other electrode is, a balanced resistance arrangement, in acis completely prevented. cordance with a familiar practice. The ex- My invention may best be understood by ternal surfaces of the two outer or longest reference to the accompanying drawings, plates corresponding to phase A are pracwherein Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, tically inactive electrically, and, in discuss- 55 with parts broken away for clearn'ess, of a in the operation of the rheostat, only the liquid levels.

two inner faces of the outer plates in quest1on Wlll be considered as active. The arrangement of electrodes with respect'to the phases and lengths, in accordance with the previous designations, may be listed as follows: Act, Cd, A0, BI), Ce, Ba, Ad, B0, 0?), A6, Ca, Bd, Cc, AZ), Be, Aa. Such an irregular rotation of phases and of lengths provides a relatively smooth exclusion of the rheostat resistance from circuit, as subsequently described in detail.

.Each electrode 5 is provided with a number of relatively small apertures 10 and with twice that number of relatively large apertures 11. A corresponding number of transversely-extending rods 12 (in this case, two pairs of two rods per phase to thereby prevent rotati-ve movement of parts) of conducting material fit within the respective sets of alined small apertures of all plates of the same phase and pass through the larger openings of all other electrodes corresponding to the other two phases, whereby only plates of the same phase are supported by, and electrically connected to, any one rod. A plurality of conducting sleeves 13 of various appropriate lengths surround the various portions of each rod between the successive plates of the same phase, while insulating spools 1%, of porcelain or other suitable material, inclose the sleeve members 13 within the lar er apertures 11 of the plates belonging to the other phases. For example, in Fig. 2 the rods 12 are shown as supporting all the plates of phase B, while, in Fig. 3 and Fig. A, corresponding constructions for electrodes of phase A and of phase C, respectively, are illustrated.

.The purpose of the insulating spools 14 is to efie-ctively prevent trickling of liquid from each plate to a conducting sleeve or red corresponding to a ditlerent phase, with the consequent short-circulting of: plates. Such trlckllng naturally results from the inevitable splashing and shifting of liquid level that occurs in moving locomotives or cars and, especially from boiling and bubbling at high temperatures. It is particularly desirable to prevent such trickling and consequent liability to disadvantageously vary the rheostat resistance during the .lower Under high-level conditions, the resistance between phases is, of course, greatly diminished, and the results of lack of protection from the trickling action in question would not be soserious. The use of such insulating means, however, is a very decided advantage, considering rheostatic operation as a whole.

A plurality of yoke members 15 (in this case six members) severally have two apertures in each vertical arm that fit over the ends of the vertically-assembled pairs of rods. 12 corresponding to the respective phases.

For thepurpose of rigidly positioning the are provided with suitable nuts 16 and lock washers 17, whereby the metallic sleeve members 13 are caused to make good electrical contact with the corresponding electrodes and yoke members.

The yoke members 15 are suitably secured, by means of bolts 18, for example, to cap members 19 of suitable insulators 20, one pair of oppositely-facing insulators being employed for each yoke member. The bases 21 of he'insulators are attached to longitudinally-extending angle members through the agency of bolts 23. The ends of the angle members 22 are supported upon transverselyextending angle-irons 2a, which may be welded, or otherwise suitably se cured, to the end walls of the tank 1. A plurality of transversely-extending intermediate brace members 25 may also be secured to the respective angle members 22 to lend additional rigidity to the electrode supporting structure.

The positions or" the several bolt-holes corresponding to the bolts 18 determine the position of the plate groups of the respective phases with respect to the provision of equal distances between electrodes. The clamping parts or the several insulators are so designed as to provide a certain degree of universal movement to facilitate assembly andimpose a minimum permanent strain upon the insulators, as fully set forth and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 173,466, filed June 8, 1917, which has matured into Patent No. 1,262,78A,

granted April 16, 1918.

In order to shunt or divert a portion of the electric current from the rods 12 and the sleeve members 13, a plurality of double strap members 28, 29 and 30 also shown in v the broken-away portlon'oi Fig. 1 are severally provided with apertures that fit over the corresponding rods 12 and make contact with two intermediate plates of the same phase. Fig. 3 shows the strap member 30 alone as connected to two plates of phase A, while Fig. 1 illustrates the strap member 28 alone as connected to two electrodes of phase C. The strap member 29, cor

be clamped or otherwise suitably secured to the central portions of the corresponding yoke members 15, while an equal number of conducting bus-bar members 31, 32 and 33 are also secured to the respectively corresponding yoke members. The central busbar member 31 is of a simple right-angle form and its horizontal arm extends beyond the outer insulators 20 to mak suitable connection with the flexible conductin means 7, as hereinafter more completely set forth. To suitably laterally space the other bus-bar members 32 and 33 from the intermediate busbar 31, the vertical portions of the bar members 32 and 33 are transversely curved in opposite directions before being clamped to the corresponding yoke members 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Each of the busbars 32 and 33 likewise is of appropriate length to extend to the flexible conducting means 7.

Another set of bus-bar members 3 35 am 36, which differ from the members just described substantially only in the length of their horizontal portions, extends from the left-hand group of insulators 20 (Fig. 1), and the horizontal portions in question rest upon the horizontal portions of the other busbar members and terminate at the same point. To provide for expansion of the relatively long bus-bar members 35 and 36 under heated operatin conditions, a dip or loop 50 is located intermediate the ends of the members in question.

The flexible conducting means 7 corresponding to each phase comprises a flexible rope or cable 87 of copper, for example, having suitable lugs or terminal members 88 and electrically secured to its respective ends. lhe terminal member 38 is attached by means of a plurality of bolts 4C0 to the outer ends of the several bus-bar members 31 to 86, inclusive, while the other terminal member 89 incloses a threaded rod or other appropriate conducting means ll that is embedded in a suitable insulating bushing e2 that extends through an adjacent portion of the tank wall. A plurality of suitable nuts d3 may be employed for effecting proper electr1 cal contact between the terminal member 39 and the threaded rod ell. Each bushing 42 may be attached to the tank wall in any appropriate manner, as by a plurality of bolts 14:, and the outer end of its conducting member ll is provided with a terminal member 15 and positioning nuts to for the purpose of efiecting connections to the desired external circuits. Thus, the electrodes and their immediate connecting means are flexibly associated with the external circuits to relieve the electrode and bushing structures from shocks and jars incidental to railway service.

The action of the liquid rheostat may be best explained by considering the rise in iquid level, accomplished in any suitable manner from a normal plane below the electrodes to the plane marked Maximum level. In the first place, let the portions of electrolyte between confrontin portions of plates corresponding to phases A and B be designated as :0, between phases B and C as y, and between phases C and A as 2. Then, upon the rise of liquid level from the dotted line corresponding to the dimension a to the next higher dotted line corresponding to the dimension Z), it will be observed that equal and relatively large volumes of electrolyte, respectively marked :0, y and 2, are included. between the active confronting portions of the electrodes. As nereinbefore stated, the external faces of the outermost electrodes, which both correspond to phase A, are considered as totally inactive for the purposes of the present specification.

As the liquid level gradually rises from the dotted line corresponding to the dimension 5 to the next higher line corresponding to the dimension 0, again equal volumes of electrolyte, respectively marked :12, 3/ and z, are included between the active confronting areas of plates corresponding to different phases. Furthermore, inactive volumes of electrolyte, respectively marked a, Z) and c, are included between confronting pori ons of pairs of plates corresponding to the phases A, B and C, respectively, which portions are, consequently, inactive. The areas orresponding to the volumes a, and 0 are cross-hatched in Fig. 2 for the sake of clcarness and convenience.

A further rise of liquid level to the dotted line corresponding to dimension (Z again causes the insertion in circuit of equal blocks of electrolyte, respectively marked a, g and 2, and the formation of inactive volumes of lectrolyte, respectively marked a, b and as will be understood without further deii alogous results follow upon the rise of liquid level to the dotted line corresponding to the dimension 0, whereby three sets of active blocks of electrolyte, namely .2, 2 and 03," a, :0 and l and 1 2 and 2 are introduced into the circuit. Thus, equal active areas corresponding to the various phases are again submerged, although such areas are not located in accordance with a regular rotation of phases. By causing the liquid level to rise toward the plane marked Maximum level, three further sets of active volumes of electrolyte, namely, y, y,- e', .2; and w, 50, as shown in Fig. 2, are insorted in the circuit.

It will be seen that I have thus provided a liquid rheostatwvherein the electrodes, cor responding to the several phases and of five different lengths, are arranged in an irregular rotation of phases and of lengths in such manner that unequal sets of active electrolyte volumes are successively included in circuit to thereby gradually reduce the active resistance value of the rheostat, but the blocks of liquid corresponding to each phase are equal in each particular set, whereby the exclusion of resistance from each phase of the circuit is, at all times, equal. Stated in accelerating another way, the submerged active electrode areas of confront ng electrodes of different phases and also the immersed inactive confronting areas corresponding to thesame phases, are respectively equal for each phase below all planes at right angles to the electrodes, that is to say, at all liquid levels.

One of. the principal reasons for the smooth resistance-exclusion or acceleration curve that is effected by the use of rheostats constructed in accordance with the present invention, is the location of thesecond set of active plates a greater distance from the confronting areas of active plates of difierent phases than from the confronting areas of plates of the same phase, whereby the exclusion of a relatively large step of resistance and a consequent jump orjerk or" the or locomotive is prevented, by reason of the fact-that a properly proportioned volume of electrolyte is excluded at this time with the result that the desired smooth accelerating curve is maintained.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details or arrangement cor of parts herein set forth, as various modi- 'therseveral phases, the electrodes being arranged in an irregular rotation of phases in such manner that substantially equal ac tive areas and substantially equal inactive areas between the outermost electrode surfaces, respectively, corresponding to the several phases are immersed at all liquid levels.

3. A polyphase liquid rheostat embodying sets of electrodes of different lengths for the several phases, the electrodes being ar- 7 ranged in an irregular rotation of phases in such manner that, upon a predetermined rise of liquid level, an additional group of electrodes, each respectively located nearer to an electrode of similar phase than to an active electrode of a different phase, is immersed.

l. A polyphase liquid rheostat embodying sets of electrodes of different lengths for the several phases, the electrodes being arranged in spaced side-by-side relation in an irregular rotation of phases in such manner as to provide substantially equal areas corresponding to the several phases and confronting electrodes of other. phases below any plane intersecting the electrodes at right angles. Q 7

5. A polyphase liquid rheostat embodying sets of electrodes of different lengths for the several phases, the electrodes being arranged in spaced side-by-side relation in an irregular rotation of phases in such manner as to provide substantially equal areas corresponding to the several phases and confronting electrodes of other phases below all planes extending at right angles to the electrodes and also to provide substantially equal areas corresponding to the several phases confronting electrodes of the same phases below any plane intersecting the electrodes at right angles.

6. A polyphase liquid rheostat embodying sets of electrodes of different lengths for the several phases, the electrodes being arranged in spaced sideby-side relation in an irregular rotation of phases in such manner as to include between confronting electrode portions of different phases substantially equal cubical spaces irrespective of the number of electrode lengths utilized.

7 A polyphase liquid rheostat embodying sets of electrodes of different lengths for the several phase the electrodes being arranged in spaced side-by-side relation in an irregular rotation of phases in such manner as to include between corresponding groups of confronting electrode portions of different phases substantially equal liquid volumes, the successive increments of volume gradually decreasing'in size as the liquid level risesto thereby produce a gradually decreas ing resistance value between phases.

8. A polyphase liquid rheostat embodying sets of electrodes of different lengths for the several phases, the electrodes being arranged in spaced side-by-side relation in the following manner, A, B and C representing the respective phases and a, Z), 0, (Z and c indieating the different lengths: Aa, Cd, A0, B6, Ce, Ba, Ad, 130, CZ), Ac, Ca, Bel, C0, A6, Be, Am. 7 l r 9. A polyphase liquid rheostat embodying sets of electrodes of different lengths for the several phases, the electrodes being arranged in insulated and equally spaced side-by-side relation in the following manner, A, B, and C representing the respective phases and a, b, 0, (Z and 6 indicating the difi'erent lengths in the decreasing order: Aa, Cd, A0, B1), Ce, Ba, Ad, Bo, Cb, Ac, Ca, Bal, Cc, A22, B76, Aa.

10. In a polyphase liquid rheostat, the combination with a plurality of sets of electrodes corresponding to the several phases, of acorresponding plurality of conducting members respectively supporting only electrodes of the same phase, and insulating means interposed between each conducting member and all other electrodes.

11. In a polyphase liquid rheostat, the

combination with a plurality of sets of electrodes corresponding to the several phases and severally proric ed with a relatively small and plurality of velv large apertures, ot a corres t-ndi conducting members rcspectiiy 111%: in said small apertures of electrodes of the same phase and passing through the large apertures of the other ele trodes, and a plu rality of insulating members sur ounding the conducting members within and on either side of saiu large apertures.

12. in a polyphase lic iid rheostat, the combinati n with a plur 'ty of sets of electrodes corresponding to the several phases and severally provided with relatively small and a pluralitv of relatively large apertures, of a corre plurality of conducting rod memb "rel T fitting in said small aperture same phase and passi 1 the large apertures of the other electrodes, a plural ity of conducting sleeve mcmb surrounding each of said onducting rod members between the electrodes of the ame )hase, plurality or sleeve n ers for s itably insulating said condiutino' rod members, and means for securing goon electrical contact between the electrodes and the corresponding conducting sleeve 11 emoers.

13. In a polyphase liquid rheostat, the combination with a plurality of set or ele trodes corresponding to the several phases, of a corresponding plurality oi conducting moans respectively conncctedonly to electrodes ot the same phase, and means for pre venting the trickling of liquid from the electrodes upon conducting means of a different phase.

14. In a polyphase liquid rheosta't, the combination with a pl ality of sets of electrodes corresponding to the sever ll phases, of a correspondin, plurality of transverselyextending conducting members connected only to electrodes of the same phase, means tion and corr spending to the several phases of a COIIGSDOZltlHlD oluralit of A 7 l n l transverselyentendinrg conducting members connected only to electrodes or the same phase, conducting; yolies connected to the ends of the respective condu ting members,

insulating means for supporting the re spective yolres, laterally spaced conducting; bars attached to the respective yolres, and a plurality of other conducting means interspective yol-zes, and a plurality of conducting bars attached to the respective yolres,

said bars being laterally spaced and extending substantially para el to tire electrodes.

17. in a polyphase li.,uid rheostat, the combination with a containing tank and a plurality of sets of ele trodes assembled in spaced side-by-side relation and corresponding to the several phases, of a corresponoing plurality of transverselyextending conducting" members connected only to electrodes of the same phase. conducting yolres connected to the ends of tee respective conducting members, insulating" means for sup porti the respective .o c I acting bars atta hed to the respective s, said oars heinolaterally spaced and ef-ttending suostantiallv parallel to the electrodes, insulating bushings supported in tank wall and inclosing conducting means, and flexible means for connecting corresponding" conducting bars and conducting means.

18. In a polvphase liquid rheostat, the combination wit-.1 a containing tank and a plurality of sets of electrodes assembled in spaced side-by-side relation and correspondt the sex ral phases, of a corresponding plurality of trans ersely-extending; con ducting members connecteu only to electrodes of the ame phase. cond suctingr yolres connected to the ends the respective con ducting members, insulating means for sup porting" the respective yokes, a. plurality of conducting oars attached to the respe tive yokes. said bars being laterallv spaced and QXtfiptlll'lQ' substantially parallel to the electrodes, a plurality of conducting straps in- I terposed between said yolres and certain uterine ate electrodes of the correspondphase, insulating bushings supported in a. tanlr wall and inclosinq conducting means, and a pluralit of flexible conducting memhere for connecting corresponding conductinc; bars and conducting means.

19. In a polyphase liquid rheostat, the combination with a plurality of sets of electrodes corresponding to the several phases of a plurality of groups of verticallv-alined conducting rod members, conducting means connected to the outer ends of each group ofrod members, and means for supporting said last means.

20. A polyphase llquid rheostat embodying sets of electrodes of different lengths 5 for "the several phases the electrodes being arranged 1n an irregular rotation of phases to provide a smoothly continuous resistance variation in each phase and substantially uniform decreases of liquid resistance Volumes between phases.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of November. 1916.

a ARTHUR J. HALL. 

